The patrons on Hanks's table included some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Music diva Mariah Carey even made a guest appearance, tweeting that she had accidentally sat in Meryl Streep's seat, right next to Spielberg, after taking the first seat available when returning from a loo break.

Unlike the Oscars, guests at the Golden Globes are seated at large round tables, quaffing food and drink throughout the ceremony.

Chris Hemsworth and Angelina Jolie were seated next to Director Taika Waititi.

When it comes to the Globes, the seating plan is everything. Landing a spot on the right table can lead to networking opportunities or even, in the case of Timberlake and Biel, romance.

Jenny Cooney, an Australian journalist and member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, is responsible for seating the nominees inside The Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom on Golden Globes night.

Cooney told Australian Vogue magazine there is intense pressure to get the seating plan right, leading to many sleepless nights.

Planning for the event starts the moment the nominations are announced and there are often last-minute changes.

"The most fun part of seating the Golden Globes is thinking about who would have fun sitting with who and then being able to make it happen," Cooney told Vogue.

"Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel met at the Globes because we put them at the same table as presenters. So you get to play matchmaker. We often pore over lists of names and try and decide who we think would get along well or might already be friendly with each other and then we wish we could be there at the end of the night to find out if we were right."

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness celebrate in style.

At Monday's ceremony, the hottest table was reigned over by the genetically blessed duo Chris Hemsworth and Angelina Jolie. The A-listers shared table eight with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi as well as Jolie's 14-year-old son, Pax, who was the star's date for the night.

Aussie hunk Hemsworth was surprisingly dateless this year, arriving at the ceremony solo. The star's wife, Elsa Pataky, is believed to be at home in Byron Bay with the couple's children.

Jolie's former love rival, Jennifer Aniston, was also at the ceremony but it is unlikely that the pair would have crossed paths.

Cooney says recently revealed personal circumstances are taken into account when planning.

"There have been years where major stars may be together for the first time since a high-profile split and we go to great lengths to put them on opposite sides of the ballroom" Cooney told Vogue.

Smiles aside, the ceremony has had its share of seating plan disasters, Cooney told Vogue.

Mariah Carey accidentally sat in Meryl Streep’s seat.

"A few years ago one nominated actor found out he was sitting at the same table as another actor he couldn't stand and he threatened to leave until we moved him. Sometimes it reminds you of high school, just with designer dresses."